Combining Like Terms

Front

What does it mean to combine like terms in an expression?

Back

Combining like terms means to simplify an expression by adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.

Front

What are like terms?

Back

Like terms are terms in an expression that have the same variable(s) and exponent(s). For example, 3x and 5x are like terms, while 3x and 2y are not.

Front

How do you combine the terms 3x and -5x?

Back

To combine 3x and -5x, you subtract the coefficients: 3 - 5 = -2, so the result is -2x.

Front

What is the result of combining the like terms 5a, -3a, and 2b?

Back

The result is 2a + 2b, as you combine 5a and -3a to get 2a, and 2b remains unchanged.

Front

What is the simplified form of -7x - 9x?

Back

The simplified form is -16x, as you combine the coefficients -7 and -9.

Front

How do you simplify the expression 7v + 2 + 12 + 2v?

Back

You combine like terms: 7v and 2v to get 9v, and 2 and 12 to get 14, resulting in 9v + 14.

Front

What is the process for combining the terms 3x, 2x, 3y, and -7y?

Back

Combine 3x and 2x to get 5x, and combine 3y and -7y to get -4y, resulting in 5x - 4y.

Front

What is the coefficient in the term 4x?

Back

The coefficient in the term 4x is 4, which is the number multiplying the variable x.

Front

Can constants be combined with variable terms?

Back

No, constants cannot be combined with variable terms. They are considered different types of terms.

Front

What is the first step in simplifying an expression with multiple like terms?

Back

The first step is to identify all the like terms in the expression.